Transportation Ministry buys 20 new training aircraft

The Transportation Ministry’s Human Resources Development and Education Agency (BPSDM) bought 20 training aircraft worth Rp 184.6 billion (US $20.12 million) from the United States to help develop pilot skills in Indonesia, a senior official said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
BPSDM secretary Wahyu Utomo said that the aircraft consisted of 18 fixed-wing Piper Warriors and 2 Bell 206 helicopters.
The aircraft will gradually arrive at the Indonesian Aviation Institute in Curug, Banten, until all 20 are delivered by the end of 2013, he said.
“Our students in Curug are currently using aging aircraft. On average, the airplanes are 25 years old and need to be phased out soon,” he said.
He added the purchase of the new aircraft was part of an effort to keep up with advances in aviation technology.
He said that so far, six out of the 18 Piper Warriors have arrived in Curug.
Currently, the aviation school has 39 training aircraft, including Beechcraft Baron twin-engine aircraft, Beechcraft C23 Sundowners, Piper Dakotas, Socata TB-10 single-engine aircraft, and three Bell 206 helicopters.


Source : The Jakarta Post